Automatic heel-breast trimming and finishing machine



J. B. HADAWAY AUTOMATIC HEEL BREAST TRIMMING AN FINISHING MACHIN Nov. 11,'1924;

Filed Aue. 29. 15519 5 Sheets-Sheet l /Mm//WLj zg QQQ Nov. 11', 1924.

J. 4E. HADAWAY AUTOMATIC HEEL BREAST TRIMMING AND FINSHING MACHINE FiledAug.' 2,9-, 1919v .'5 Sheets-Sheet 2 wf/v MAL Nav. 11 1924. 1,514,615

.L B.v HADAWAY y AUTQMATICHEEL BREAST TRIMMING AND FINISHING MACHINEFiled Aug. 29, `1919 5 Sheets-,Sheet 3 D//V VE/V U7@ A Patented Nov.11,1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. J'OHN B. HA'DAWAY, OF/SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITEDSHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, F PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

AUTOMATIC HEEL-BREAST TRIMMING. AND FINISHING MACHINE.

Application led August 29, 1919. Serial No. 320,684.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. HADAWAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Swampscott, in the county of Essex and 6 State ofMassachusetts, have invented ce-rtain Improvements in Automatic Heel-Breast Trimmin and Finishing Machines, of which the fo owingdescription, connection with the accompanying drawings, is

10 a spcification, like reference characters on the drawings indicatinglike parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to shoe-making machinery and is illustrated asembodied in an automatic heel breast trimming and finishing machine.

The present usual practice in making those types of shoes which haveheels of leather or leather substitutes is to attach an unfinished heelblank to the heel seat of the shoe and thereafter trim, scour and finishthe breast and the side face surfaces of the heel. It is, of course,desirable that a high degree of uniformity be maintained in trimming andscouring the heals of the different shoes of a lot, and suc'h uniformityis absolutely essential as to the two shoes of a pair. To attain suchuniformity necessitates a skillful and experienced operative when, as isusual, the operative holds the shoe or controls its position withrespect to the trimming and the scouring means. It is very easy toremove too much material, and that means a misshapen heel.

On the other hand, heel blanks, being small rigid objects, are welladapted to mechanical and to automatic handling. When so handled theycan be accurately positioned and accurately operated upon, the finishedheels being thus of a high degree of uniformity, and this without anygreat amount of skill on the part of the operative.

An object of this invention, accordingly, is to provide an automaticmachine for performing any or all of the various operations necessary intrimming and finishing the breasts of heels before they have been attached to shoes. Such heels will also have their side face surfacesfinished before they have been attached 'to shoes, either before orafter the breast finishing operation. The use of such a machine willresult in a product of a high degree of uniformity.

This machine is particularly adapted for use 1n the manufacture of shoeswhich have their heels attached from the inside lof the shoe, as bynailing, though it is also applicable to the manufacture of'shoes havingtheir heels nailed or otherwise attached from the outside providedadequate precautions are taken to avoid marrlng the heels during thefastening operations.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention I have shown a rotaryconveyor having a series of heel holders or supports to which the heelblanks are automatically fed and by which they are successively carriedto breast trimming, scouring and blacking tools. The partially finishedblanks are then transferred to a second rotary conveyor, Concentric withthe first, by which they are carried while the blacking dries. After asuitable interval of time has elapsed the heels are re-transferred tothe first conveyor, by which they are presented successively to waxing,burnishing and polishing tools, after which they are discharged from theconveyor.

The heel blanks move forward, it will be noted, in a continuous stream.When a heel with wet blacking thereon is transferred from the. first tothe second conveyor, its place is taken by a heel on which the blackinghas sufficiently dried. Thus the wet and dry heels are reciprocallyinterchanged between the two conveyors.

As an amplification of this idea, and to provide additional time for theblacking to dry, without slowing down the operation of the machine as awhole, the second or outer .conveyor is shown as provided with twovseries of heel holders on two different levels I and is raised andlowered from time to time so that each heel is carried around twice,once on a holder of each series of heel holders, before it isre-transfefrred to the conveyor which presents it to the remainingfinishing tools.

To facilitate the drying of the blacking, means is illustrated to blowair `overthe breast surfaces of the heels as they are carried around bythe second Conveyor.

The heel holders of that conveyor which brings the heels-to thedifferent operating tools as shown are slidably mounted on the conveyor,and are spring pressed towards the operating tools. 4Each heel holder ispreferably provided with a roll for engaging a series of cams to controlthe motion of the heel,l holders and heels toward and from the severaloperating tools. Hence by providing a number of appropriately formedinterchangeable cams, heelsmay be finished with different curves attheir breasts.

The novel features and advantages of the invention will appear morefully from the following detailed description whenread in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, and will be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, i

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine, partly broken away and in section;

Fig. 2 is a View partly in side elevation and partly in section on line2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rea-r elevation;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the heel holders or clamps of theinner conveyor; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammaticview of an adjusting means for the outerconveyor.

In the description of the machine of this invention, and in the claims,the word heel is intended to be taken in a sense broad enough to includea heel blank or a partially completed heel, unless the contrary isobvious from the context.

The machine, as illustrated, is provided with a main frame having a base10 provided with standards 12, 14 and 16. Standard 12 carries at itsupper end a circular extension 18 (Fig. 2) for guiding and supportingvarious conveying instrumentalities as well as a stationary heel support20.

Supported in any suitable manner above the heel support 20 is a magazine22 for holding a supply of heel blanks. From this magazine the blanksare fed one at a time on to an inner annular rotary conveyor 24 by meansof a reciprocatory feeder 26.

Journaled in standards 14 is a shaft 30, intermittently rotated bymechanism hereinafter described, and carrying a cam provided with agroove for engaging a roll 32 mounted at one end of an oscillatablelever 34 (Fig. 2) pivoted at 36 on any suitable support such as thestandards 16. To the other end of lever 34 is pivoted one end of a link38, connected at its other end to one arm of a, bell crank lever 40pivoted at 41 to the main frame. The other arm of bell crank lever 40 ispivoted to one end of link 42, which in turn is connected at its otherend to one arm of a bell crank lever 44, pivoted at 46 to the main frameand having its other arm connected through a short link 48 with thereciprocating feeder 26. Thus it is apparent that the intermittentrotation of the sha-ft 30 is utilized to inter mittently reciprocate thefeeder 26.

Supported by the magazine 22 is a gage 50, adjustable by means of ascrew and slot connection 52 to position the heels on the heel supportsor holders 56 which are supported for radial sliding movement on theconveyor 24.

(lo-operating with each of the heel supports 56 is a clamp bar 58 havingan inverted U-shaped portion of the form shown in Fig. 4 and adjustablyheld in place on screw threaded rods 60 by nuts 62. Rods 60 areconnected at their lower ends by a bar or other suitable member 62 bywhich is carried a roller 64 travelin'g on cam track 66. Supportedbeneath each heel support 56 is a cross head 68, carrying a roll 70, and

receiving, through holes in its opposite ends,

rods 60. Each rod 60 is provided with a compression spring 72 bearing atone end against cross head 68 and at the other against an abutment 74rigid on rod 60.

At, the heel receiving station and extending tofthe discharge stationlocated adjacent thereto and clockwise therefrom, as viewed in Fig. 1,cam track 66 is provided with a rise, so that clamp bars 58 are elevatedwhen in this locality, to permit the convenient feeding of a heel toeach heel support by reciprocating feeder 26 and to permit later itsdischarge ltherefrom by mechanism hereinafter to be described.

The rotaryconveyor 24, which is of an annular form, is provided with aseries of pockets in each of which is a stiff compression spring 7 6,these springs tending to move the heel holders 56 a short distancetowards the center of the conveyor. To permit this movement rods 60 passthrough a series of slots 7 8 (see Fig. 1) formed between projectinglugs on conveyor 24.

Adjacent to the inner edge of the conveyor 24 are two series offinishing or operating tools exemplified as consisting of a rotarytrimmer 82, a scouring belt 84 passing around pulleys 85 and a blackingbrush 86 constituting the first series, and 'rotary waxing, burnishingand polishing tools, 88, 90 and 92 respectively, constituting the second, They foregoing tools, with theexcep tion of the blacking brush, areillustrated as driven by belts 94 and 96, receiving power from pulley 98on shaft 100, which is driven from pulley 102 through shaft 104 andbevel gears 106 and 108. In view of the fact that the detailconstruction of these tools forms no part of the present invention, theshow-y These cams are detachably secured to a portion of the main frameby screws 112 so that they may be removed and replaced by cams of adifferent form from time to time as demanded by the desired contour ofthe various sorts of heels to be operated upon After the blacking hasbeen applied to the heel breasts it is necessary that it be allowed asuitable time to dry before the remaining operations are performed. Viththis end in view there is provided a second, or outer, annular rotaryconveyor 114 which, like the inner conveyor, is given a suitablestep-by-step movement by suitable operating mechanism hereinafterdescribed. Conveyor 114 is made up of two rings, an upper 116 and alower 118, each provided with a series of heel holders, and eachconveniently having twice the number of heel holders provided on theinner conveyor.

rlhe upper and lower rings 116 and 118 are rigidly connected, as at 1.24(Fig. 2), and the latter rests upon but is movable relatively to aflange 120 formed circumferentially upon the inner conveyor 24.

Transfer means, indicated generally at 126 in Fig. 2, and provided withsuitable intermittently acting operating mechanism hereinafterdescribed, is provided to transfer heels from the inner to the outerconveyor, and after the heels have been carried around by the outerconveyor, once at each level, so that the blacking has dried, toretransfcr them to the inner conveyor for presentation to the remainingoperating tools.

Transfer means 126 consists of a bar 128 provided at its forward endwith a downturned lip 130, and provided also with a pair of heelengaging pushers 132. Bar 128 is connected at its rear end to a link134, pivoted at 136 to a lever 138 fulcrumed on the standard 16 androvided with a roll 140 for engagement in a suitable cam groove in a camon shaft 30 for intermittent oscillation.

A slideway 142 in a member 144 mounted for vertical movement in aguideway 146 of the main frame supports for reciprocatory movement aslide block 148 to which bar 128 is adjustably attached, as indicated at149. A roll 150 mounted on the downwardly extending stem of member 144is spring held against a cam mounted on shaft 30 to control the verticalmovement of member 144. The configuration of the various cams is such asto give a suitable four-motion feed to bar 128, to move heels on itsbackward stroke from the inner conveyor and the outer conveyor to theouter conveyor and a stationary transfer table 152 respectively, and onits forward stroke from transfer table 152 and the outer conveyor to theouter conveyor and the inner conveyor respectively.

As previously noted, each clamp bar 58 of the heel holders of the innerconveyor is provided with an inverted U-shaped portion, as clearly shownin Fig. 4, .so that bar 128 may pass therethro-ugh during `the transferof the heels. Cam 66 is provided with a rise at this transfer station sothat the heels are at the time of transfer merely resting upon, but notclamped to, the holders of the inner'conveyor.

Turning now to the lconstruction of the outer conveyor, it is, as beforestated, provided with upper and lower rings 116 and 118 on each of whichis adjustably supported a pair of rings 156 and 158, carrying slightlyconverging approximately radial plates 160 and 162 respectively to formheel holders to position and hold the heels upon the outer conveyor. Theadjustment of plates 160 and 162 towards and away from one anotherequally but in oppo site directions is controlled by a device 164, shownin detail in Fig. 5, and consisting of a disc 166 pivoted at 168 to theunder side o-f each ring 116 and 118 and pro-vided with a pair of pins169 passing up through curved slots in rings 116 and 118 and extendinginto radial slots 170 in rings 156 and 158, so that by the rotation ofdisc 166, rings 156 and 158 may be moved equally, but in oppositedirections. A screw vand slot connection 171 (Fig. 1) is convenientlyused to clamp each ring 156, and consequently also each ring 158 inadjusted position on rings 116 and 118 of conveyor 114.

During the transfer of the heels to and from the two series of heelholders of the outer conveyor, it is necessary that the respectiveholders be, at the time of transfer, on a level with the heelrholders 56of the inner conveyor and the transfer table 152. Accordingly, suitablytimed intermittently operating mechanism is provided for raising andlowering the outer conveyor. As previously stated, the outer conveyorrests upon flange 120 of the inner conveyor, and is carried and movedthereby. Conveyor 24 is provided with a large worm wheel172 surroundingthe saine, and meshing with an intermittently operated worm 174. Beneathworm wheel 172, and suitably supported on extension 18 of standard 12 isa similar worm wheel 176 meshing with a second intermittently operatedworm 178. Formed rigid with worm wheel 176 is a cam track 180 providedat suitable intervals with risers 182. Mounted for vertical slidingmove'- ment through the flange 120 of the inner conveyor 24, andengaging at their upper ends lower ring 118 of the outer conveyor are aseries of rods 184, one for each riser 182 of cam 180, each provided atits lower end with a cam engaging roll 186. It will llU be apparent thata partial notation counter- I clockwise (as viewed in Fig. 1) of theinner conveyor 24, cam 180 remaining stationary,

will elevate as well as rotate the outer conveyor, while a succeedingsimilar rotation of cam 180, the inner conveyor remaining stationary andthe outer conveyors having at this time no rotary movement, will lowerthe outer conveyor.

Since the outer conveyor is provided with twice as many heel holders asthe inner, it is necessary tofrotate it through only half as great anangle at each step. Accordingly the outer conveyor is provided with aseries of projecting lugs 18S, adapted when the outer conveyor is in itselevated'or partially elevated position to engage a stop 190 supportedby standard 16 near the transfer table 152, to stop the rotation of andaccurately position the outer conveyor while permitting rotation of theinner conveyor and change in elevation of the out-er conveyor.

The transfer and exchange of the heels between the two conveyors by bar128 and the parts co-operating therewith will now be explained. Assumingthat the machine has been in operation long enough so that all the heelholders are supplied with heels, as shown in Fig. 2, and considering theheels at the left of that ligure and adjacent to transfer table 152, theheel on the inner conveyor 24 is dry. The upper heel on the outerconveyor we may conveniently call half-dry, it having been carriedaround once by the outer conveyor, while the lower heel on the outerconveyor is wet with freshly applied blacking. The transfer table isempty. (Positionl.)

Rotation of worm 174 will now cause ro- Y tation of both conveyors,with, since cam 180 is at this timeY stationary, an upward movement ofthe outer conveyor. The rotary movement of the latter is stopped by theengagement of one of the lugs 188 with stop 190, while the innerconveyor moves until worm 174 is disconnected from its driving means, aswill be hereinafter described, to remove the dry and bring a wet heelinto position. (Position II.) o

Rotation of shaft 30 will now cause feeder 26 to transfer a heel blankfrom magazine 22to a heel holder 56 on the inner conveyor, from which aheel will have been discharged by a bell crank lever 192 (Fig. 1) havingan arm 194 projecting above the path of movement of the heels and swungby a trip 196, one of which is carried by each of the heel holders ofthe inner conveyor, to discharge the heels from the holders as they passthereby. Thus each heel, as it moves under the influence of bell cranklever 192' is pushed olf the inner edge of the conveyor` the clamp bar58 being at this time released by the rise in cam 66. The followingheel, at this time still clamped to the inner conveyor, as it movestowards discharging position engages the curved arm of bell crank lever192 and, acting as a cam, swings it back to the position of Fig. 1. Camson shaft 30 will at the same time-operate bar 128 to move the sameforwardly and then downwardly to engage the two heels on the innerconvevor and the lower holder ofthe outer conveyor, and thereafterrearwardly to transfer the two heels to the lower holder of the outerconveyor and the transferV table 152 respectively, leaving ,the holderonthe inner conveyor empty. (Position III.)

Rotation of cam 180, the conveyors at this time having no rotarymovement, lowers the outer conveyor (Position IV), whereupon bar 128 isymoved forwardly, pushing a pair of heels from transfer table 152 and theupper holder of the outer conveyor to the upper holder of the outerconveyor and the empty holder-on the inner conveyorrespectively.(Position I.)

It will thus be seen that one cycle of operation ha-s been completed.This is repeated automatically in the continued operation of themachine.

The followino schematic representation ofy the location of the heels inthe various positions, consecutively arranged, will, it is believed, beof assistance in following through and understanding the mode ofoperation of the transfer mechanism and the parts more closely(3o-*operating therewith Transfer Heel holders of Heel holders of tableouter conveyor inner conveyor Position I Empty.. .gtm'y }Dry. Rotationof conveyors, with elevation of outer conveyor:

Position 11 Empty.. {ggflf if" }Wet. Rearward transfer by feed bar 128:1

Position HL..- Hoifery ,32,25 }Empry. Lowering of outer Y conveyor: y i

Position iv..... nou-drylDv- }Empty. Forward transfer by l feed bar 128,resulting again in- Position I Empty.. (-ltf'dry }Drv.

Any suitable means may be used to give the' desired intermittent,properly timed movements to shaft 30 and worms 174 and 178. The drawingsshow dia ramniatically an arrangement of Horton c utches which willaccomplish the desired result, but the arrangement is shown forillustrative purposes only. The invention is in no way to be limited tothis'specilic arrangement, nor indeed to the use of Horton clutches at`all.

As illustrated, these parts of the machine are driven by a continuouslyrotating belt pulley 198 rigidly secured to a main drive shaft 200. 0nthis shaft, and driven thereby, are shown three Horton clutches 202, 204and 206, the last of these being connected to worm 174 to drive. thesame when thrown into operation. Rigid with worm `174 is a pinion 208meshing with a gear 210 on shaft 212. Clutches.202, 204 and 206 areprovided with the usual controlling dogs 212, 214 and 216 respectively,thrown into operative position against springs 218 by suitable camshereinafter described.

In the following description, when a clutch is said to be released, itis to be understood that the cam controlling its dog has. in theoperation of the machine, reached a position so that the dog is moved byits spring 118`into position to effect driving operation of the clutch.

When the machine has been at rest, assuming it to be in Position I, andit is to be started, pulley 198 and its shaft v20() being continuouslyrotated, clutch 206 is released manually, which results in therevolution of worm 174 and consequently of the conveyors, with theelevation of the outer conveyor, resulting in Position II. At this timea cam in gear 210, loosely mounted on shaft 212 and meshing with pinion208, holds clutch dog 216 released against the pull of its spring 218.

Immediately before the stopping of worm 17 4, cam 219 on the left handend (as viewed in Fig. 3) of the extended hub of gear 210 releasesclutch 204, through dog 214, which is held released by a cam in gear 220(F ig. 1), mounted loosely on shaft 212 and meshing with pinion 224 andgear 226, the latter fast on shaft 30. This allows the transfer cam faston shaft 30 to make one half a revolution, and operates transfer bar 128to move the heels rearwardly, resulting in Position III. Immediatelybefore the stopping of gear 226, a cam 230, on the left hand end (asviewed in Fig. 3) of shaft 30 releases clutch 202 through its dog 212,which is held released by a cam in 'gear 234 loose on shaft 212, thisgear meshing with a pinion 236 connected to clutch 202 and with apinion238 on the shaft of worm 178. This rotates worm 178, and throughit, worm wheel 176 and cam 180, to lower the outer conveyor, resultingin Position IV. Immediately before the stopping of worm 178, a cam 240,on the right hand end (as viewed in Fig. 3) of the extended hub of gear234, releases clutch 204, through its dog 214, which, as before stated,is held released by a cam in the gear 220. This through gearing 224, 226causes the transfer cam on shaft 30 to make another half revolution,transfer bar 128 thereby moving a pair of heels forward and resultingagain in Position I. During this last movement also a heel istransferred from the magazine to the empty heel holder of the innerconveyor as previously described.k Immediately before stopping, cam 241,on the right hand end (as viewed in Fig. .3)

of shaft 30, releases clutch 206, through its dog 216, and the foregoingmovements are thus automatically repeated.

In order to expedite the drying of the blacking on the heels as they arecarried around by the outer conveyor, means is illustrated for blowing acurrent of air on t-o their breasts. This comprises a stationarycircular chamber 250, mounted on extension 18 of standard 12 of the mainframel (see Fig. 2) and supplied with air under pressure from anysuitable source, and a co-operating rotary chamber 252, forming part ofthe annulus of the inner conveyor, and having its lower wall in movablecontact with the upper wall of the stationary chamber. These contactingsurfaces are supplied with co-operating apertures 254 and 256, so thatat all times air under pressure is supplied to the rotating chamber 252.This chamber is provided with a series of orifices 260 through which aircurrents pass out on to and assist in the drying of the breasts of theheels on the outer conveyor.

In the following claims, by a finishing operation is intended any ofthose operations by which a step is performedin the ,production of afinished heel from a rough blank.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for finishing unattached heels, the combination of meansfor trimming and finishing the breasts of heel blanks, and automaticmeans to present heel blanks successively thereto.

2. In a machine for finishing unattached heels, the combination ofheel-blank deliver means, a series of tools for performing di ferentfinishing operations upon heel blanks, and an automatically controlledconveyor to receive heel-blanks from the delivery Ineens and presentthem sequentially to the too s.

3. In a heel finishing machine, the combination of means for removingsurplus stock from the breasts of heel blanks, means for applyingfinishing material to the surfaces produced by the removing operations,and mechanism for automatically presenting heel blanks sequentially tosaid stock removing and finishing material applying means.

4. In a heel finishing machine, the combi- Y nation of means forapplying finishing material to the breasts of heel blanks, means4applying finishing material to the surfaces produced by the removingmeans, means for operating upon the surface to which the finishingmaterial has been applied to finish the same, and mechanism forautomatically presenting heel blanks successively to said stockremoving, said finishing material applying, and said operating means.

6. In a machine for finishing unattached heels, the combination ofheel-delivery means, a trimming tool, a scouring tool, and automaticmeans to receive heels from the delivery means and present themsequentially to said tools.

7. In a machine for finishing unattached heels,` the combination ofheel-delivery means, a trimming tool, a scouring tool, and anautomatically controlled conveyor to receive heels from the deliverymeans and present them sequentially to said tools.

8. In a machine for finishing unattached y heels, the combination of aheel breasting tool, a heel breast scouring tool, and automatic means topresent heels sequentially to said tools.

9. In a machine for finishing unattaohed heels, the combination of aheelbreasting tool, a heel breast scouring tool, a blaoking applying tool,and automatic means to present heels sequentially to said tools.

10. In a machine for finishing unattached heels, the combination of aheel breast scouring tool, a blacking applying tool, and automatic meansto present heels sequentially to said tools.

11. In a machine for finishing unattached heels, the combination of aWaX applying tool, a burnishing tool, andautomatic means to presentheels sequentially to said tools. Y

12. In a machine for finishing unattached heels, the c/ombination of awax applying tool, a burnishing tool, a polishing tool, and automaticmeans to present heels sequentially to said tools. f

13. In a machine for finishing unattached heels, the combination'of ablacking applying tool, a Wax applying tool, a burnishing tool, andautomatic means to present heels sequentially to said tools.

14. In a machine for finishing unattached heels, the combination of ablacking applying tool, a wax applying tool, a polishing tool, andautomatic means to present heels sequentially to said tools.

15. In a machine for finishing unattached heels, the combination of ablacking applyingtool, a wax applying tool, a burnishing tool, apolishing tool, and automatic means to present heels sequentially tosaid tools.

' 16. In a machine for fimshin unattached heels, the combination of aeel clamp, means to `deliver a heel in position in sald' clamp, a rotarytool for operating upon the breast of a heel held by said clamp, andautomatic-mechanism constructed and arheel supports relatively to saidconveyor and for moving the conveyor to present different parts of theheel surfaces to the tool.

18. In a heel finishing machine, the combination of an automaticallycontrolled conveyor arranged to pass a series of operating stations, aseries of heel holders mounted thereon, means to hold heels on therespective heel holders, means to place heels on the holders, a tool ateach operating station for performing a finishing operation upon thesuccessive heels presented thereto, and means `for moving the heelsrelativelyto the different operating tools to present different parts ofthe heel surfaces to the tool.

19. In a heel finishing machine, the combination of a conveyor, a seriesof heel clamps mounted thereon and carried thereby, means to place heelsin the clamps, and an operating too arranged adjacent to the path ofmovement of the conveyor and constructed and arranged to perform afinishing operation upon the successive heels clamped on the conveyor asthe conveyor moves them bodily past the tool.

20. In a heel finishing machine the combination of a conveyor arrangedto pass a series of operating stations, a series of heel holders movablymounted thereon, means t0 hold heels onv the respective heel holders,means to place heels in the holding means, means to move each heelholder and the heel carried thereby towards and awa from the successiveoperating stations, an means at each station to operate upon thesuccessive heels presented thereto.

21. In a heel finishing machine the combination of a conveyor, a seriesof heel holders movably mounted on the conveyor, means to clamp heels onthe respective heel holders, means to deliver heels thereto, meanspositioned adjacent to the path of movement of the conveyor to operateupon heels clamped on said heel holders, and means to move said heelholders towards said operating means to press the heels against saidoperating means.

means to press the heels against said oper-l ating means.

23. In a heel breastfinishing machine, the` combination of a conveyor, aseries of heel holders movably mounted on the -conveyor, means to holdVheels on the respective heel holders, means to deliver heels thereto,means positioned adjacent the pathl of movement of the conveyor tooperate upon the heels, and means to move said heel holders and theheels thereon towards and away from said operating means in accordancewith the desired contour of the finished heels.

24. In a heel breast finishing machine the combination of a conveyor, aseries of heel holders movably mounted on the conveyor.l means to holdheels on the respective heel holders, means to deliver heels thereto,means positioned adjacent to the path of movement of the conveyor tooperate upon the breasts of the heels, and means to move said heelholders and the heels thereon towards and away from said operating meansin accord-` ance with the desired contour of the breasts of the finishedheels.

25. In a heel finishing machine, the combination of, a conveyor arrangedto pass a series of operating stations, a series of heel holders movablymounted thereon, means to clamp the'heels on the respective heelholders, means to deliver heels thereto, a cam surface at each of saidoperating stations, means carried by each of the heel holders, inposition t0 be engaged by the cam surfaces to move said heel holders andthe heels which they carry towards and away from the operating stations,and means at each operating station to operate upon the successive heelspresented thereto.

,26. In a heel breast finishing machine, the combination of a conveyorarranged to pass a series of operating stations, a series of heelholders movably mounted thereon, means to clamp the heels on therespective heel holders, a cam surface at each of said ope-ratingstations, a roll carried by each of the heel holdeis in position to beengaged by the cam surfaces to move said heel holders and the heelswhich they carry towards and away from the operating station inaccordance with the desired contour of the .breasts of the finishedheels, and means at each operating stat-ion to opera-te upon thesuccessive heels presented thereto.

27. In a heel finishing machine, the combination of a conveyorfmeans fordriving said conveyor, a series of heel sup-ports mounted thereon, meansactuated by move ment of the conveyor for clamping heels on the saidheel supports, a rotary breasting tool mounted adjacent to the path ofmovement of said conveyor, and means to move said heel supports in adirection normal to combination of an annular said tool to present saidheels in position to be breasted by said cutter as said conveyor movesforward.

28. In a hee-l breast finishing machine, the combination of an annularrotary conveyor, a series of heel supports radially movable thereon, afirst series of tools mounted adjacent to the inner edge of saidconveyor for trimming, scouring and applying blaclring to the breasts ofheels carried by said heel supports, a. second series lof tools forwaxing, burnishing and polishing the breasts of said heels, and means tosuccessively move the -various heel supports radially towards and awayfrom the different tools Iso that said tools may sequentially operateupon the breasts of the various heels.

29. In a heel breast finishing machine, the combination of an annularrotary conveyor, a series of heel supports radially movable thereon, ablacking applying tool mounted adjacent to the inner edge of saidconveyor, a second annular rotary conveyor concentric with said firstnamed annular conveyor, means to transfer the hee-ls to which blackinghas been applied from said first named conveyor to said second namedconveyor by which they may be carried while the blacking dries, and toretransfer said hee-ls on which the blacking has dried to the heelsupports on said first named conveyor, a series of tools for waxing,burnishing and polishing the breasts of said heels on Awhich theblacking has dried, and moans to successively move the various heelsupports radially towards and away from the different tools so that saidtools may sequentially op-erate upon the breasts of the various heels.

30. In a heel breast finishing machine, the

rotary conveyor, a series of` heel supports radially movable thereon, aplurality of rotary tools for finishing the heel breasts, mountedadjacent to the inner edge of said-conveyor and equidistant from thecenter thereof, and means to move the heel supports andl the heelsthereon successively radially towards and away from the various rotarytools to perform in sequence the various finishing operations upon thebreasts of the heels as the heels are moved forward by the conveyor. 31.An intermittent-ly movable rotary conveyor, a circular seat at theperiphery thereof, and a second rotary conveyor resting on the circularseat of the first conveyor and rotatable therewith.

32. In combination, two concentric rotary conveyors, the secondsup-ported by the first and free to rotate. with respect thereto, meansfor rotating the first conveyor whereby the second is also rot-ated, anda stop to limitthe rotation of the second conveyor while permittingrotation of the first conveyor.

lUO

34. An intermittently movable rotary conveyor, a circular seat at theperiphery thereof, a second rotary conveyor resting on the circular seatof the first conveyor, and a stop to limit the rotation of the secondoonveyor while permitting rotation of the firstconveyor.

35. A rotary conveyor comprising a pair of concentric and relativelymovable rings, each ring provided with a series of plates, a pair ofsaid plates, one of each series, being adapted to position a heel on theconveyor.

36. A rotary conveyor comprising a pair of concentric and relativelymovable rings, each ring provided with a series of plates, air of saidplates, one of each series, being adapted to position a heel on theconveyor, and means for adjusting said concentric plates through equalangles but in opposite directions, in accordance with thc size of theheel to be handled. Y f

37. A rot-ary conveyor, a cam track underlying theconv'eyor andconcentric therewith, a series of rods supporting the conveyor at theirupper ends and provided at their lower ends with rollers to engage withthe cam track, and means for alternately moving theV conveyorY and thecam to give the conveyor alternately a forward and upward movement and adownward movement.

38.` A11 endless conveyor having mechanism to clamp an article thereto,means to operate on an article carried thereby, means to release saidmechanism at a discharge station, and means at said discharge station toeject said article from the conveyor.

39. A conveyor having a series of article holders, each provided with anoutstanding lug, means to operate on articles presented by the holders,and means operated by contact with said lugs to eject articles from therespective holders.

40. A conveyor having a heel holder movably mounted with respect to theconveyor, said holder being provided with a bar for clampingV a heel inY place thereon, yielding means urging said bar into heel clampingposition, and means acting against the tension of said yielding means tomove said bar from heel clamping position, in combination with means tooperate on the breast of a heel clamped on the holder, and means tocontrol the movement of the heel holder with respect to the conveyor inconformity to the curvature of the breast of the heel.

41. Aconveyor having a heel holder Yro-Y vvided wlth a bar for clamping`a hee in place thereon, means to place thereon, said bar having alignedportions engaging one face of a heel and an inverted U-shaped portiontherebetween eX- tending in a direction away from the heel, and means toapply pressure to said bar to clamp a heel against the conveyor.

42. A conveyor having a heel holder provided with a bar for clamping aheel in place thereon, said bar having an inverted U-shaped portionextending in a direction away from the heel, means to apply a clampingpressure to said bar, and a transfer finger constructed and arranged topass through ysaid inverted U-shaped portion to transfer a heel to orfrom the heel holder.

43. A conveyor having a series of article carriers, each provided withan outstanding lug and with article-clamping means, and an approximatelyL-shaped lever pivoted at its angle adjacentl to the path of movement ofthe conveyor, and with one of its arms extending into the path ofmovement of the lugs, to be swung therebyy to eject articles from thecarriers.

44. A conveyor having a heel holder provided with a bar for clamping aheel in place thereon, means to place a heel on the heel holder, and apair of spring held rods mounted on the conveyor, one rod engaging eachend of the clamping bar to hold said bar in heel clamping position.

45. A conveyor having a heel holder provided with a bar for clamping aheel in place thereon, means to place a heel on the heel holder, a pairVofV spring held rods mounted on the conveyor, one rod engaging each endof the clamping bar to'hold said bar in heel clamping position, andmeans to move said bar from heel clamping position.

46. A conveyor having a heel holder provided with a bar for clamping aheel in place thereon, means to place a heel on the heel holder, a pairof spring held rods Y mounted on the conveyor, one rod engaging each endof' the clamping bar to hold said bar in heel clamping position, and acam to move said bar :fromY heelclamping position.

47. A conveyor having a heel holder pro.- vided with a bar for clampinga heel in lace a heel on the heel holder, a pair of yieldingly held rodsmounted on the conveyor and engaging the respective ends of said bar tohold said bar 1n heel clamping position, av roll journaled in a supportconnected to the lower ends of said rods, and a cam having a rise forengaging and elevating said roll to raise said bar from heel clampingposition'. f

48. A conveyor having a series of heel seats, each provided with a barfor clamping a heel in'place thereon, means to place a heel on each heelseat, a series of pairs of spring held rods mounted on the conveyor, onerod of each pair engaging each end of the respective clamping bars tohold Said bars in heel clamping position, and means to move said barsfrom heel clamping position.

49. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a conveyorhaving a series of lheel holders, and means to blow separate currents ofair on to the respective Y heels carried thereby.

50. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a rotaryconveyor having a circular series of heel holders, and means to blowseparate currents of air on to the respective heels carried thereby.

51. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a chamberfor air under pressure, a second chamber having one of its walls incontact with one of the walls of the rst chamber, said contacting wallshaving openings therein to permit the passage of air under pressure fromsaid rst chamber to said second chamber, and a conveyor adjacent to saidsecond chamber, the walyl of said second chamber being provided withapertures adjacent to the conveyor to permit air under pressure toimpinge upon articles carried by the conveyor.

52. A machine of the class described, hav-` ing, in combination, achamber for air under pressure, a second chamber having one 1 of itsWalls in contact with one of the Walls of the first chamber, saidcontacting walls having openings therein to permit the passage of airunder pressure from said first chamber to said second chamber, ajconveyor adjacent to said second chamber, the wall of said secondchamber being provided with apertures adjacent to the conveyor to permitair under pressure to impinge upon articles carried by the conveyor, andmeans for fmoving said second chamber in a path parallel ,to the path ofsaid conveyor.

53. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a circularchamber for air under pressure, a second circular chamber having one ofits walls in contact with one of the walls of the first chamber, therebeing openings in said contacting walls to permit the passage of -airunder pressure from said first chamber to said second chamber, a rotaryconveyor adjacent to said second chamber, and means for moving saidsecond chamber in a path concentric with that of the conveyor, the wallof said second chamber being provided with apertures to permit air underpressure to impinge upon articles carried by said conveyor.

54. A pair of concentric rotary conveyors, the outer conveyor beingprovided With an upper and a lower series of heel holders, and means tointerchange heels carried by the two conveyors.

55. A pair of concentric rotary conveyors, the outer conveyor beingprovided with an upper and a lower series of heel holders, and means totransfer a heel from a heel holder onl the inner conveyor to a lowerholder on the outer conveyor, to transfer a heel from said lower holderon the outer conveyor to the corresponding upper holder on the outerconveyor, and to transfer a heel from said upper holder on the outerconveyor tov said holder on the inner conveyor.

56. A pair of concentric rotary conveyors, the outer conveyor beingprovided with an upper and a lower series of heel holders, and automaticmeans to transfer a heel from a heel holder on the inner conveyor to alower holder on the outer conveyor, to transfer a heel from said lowerholder on the outer conveyor to the corresponding upper holder on theouter conveyor, and to transfer a heel from said upper holder on theouter conveyor to said holder on the inner conveyor.

57. The combination of a pair of concentric rotary conveyors, the outerconveyor having an upper and a lower series of heel holders, a tablelocated adjacent to the outer conveyor, and means to simultaneouslytransfer heels from the inner conveyor and the outer conveyor to theouter conveyor and the table respectively.

58. The combination of a pair of concentric rotary conveyors, the outerconveyor having an upper and a lower series of heel holders, a tablelocated adjacent to the outer conveyor, and means to simultaneouslytransfer heels from the table and theouter conveyor to the outerconveyor and the inner conveyor respectively.

59. The combination of a pair of concentric rotary conveyors, the outerconveyor having an upper and a lower series of heel holders, a tablelocated adjacent to the outer conveyor, means to simultaneously transfera pair of heels from the inner conveyor and one of the heel holders ofthe lower series of the outer conveyor to said heel holder of the lowerseries of the outer conveyor and the table respectively, and means tothereupon lower the outer conveyor, and said first-named means beingoperable to thereafter transfer the heel on the transfer table and aheel on the adjacent heel holder of the upper series of the outerconveyor to said heel holder of the upper series of the outer conveyorand the vacated space on the inner conveyor, respectively.

60. The combination of a pair of concentric rotary conveyors, the outerconveyor having an upper and a lower series of .heel holders, a tablelocated adjacent to the outer conveyor, means to simultaneously transfera pair of heels from the inner conveyor and one of the heel holders ofthe lower series of the outer conveyor to said heel holder of the lowerseries of the outer conveyor and the table respectively, means tothereupon lower the outer conveyor, said transfer means being operableto thereafter transfer the heel on the transfer table and a heel on theadjacent heel holder of the upper series of theV outer conveyor to saidheel holder of the upper series of the outer conveyor and the vacatedspace on the inner conveyor respectively, and means to thereupon rotateeach of the conveyors a ste to bring the next pair of heel holderso Vtheouter conveyor and the next heel on the inner conveyor into alinementwith the table. Y

61. In combination, a magaz'ne for heels, a conveyor adjacent to themagazine, means to feed the lowermosty heel in the magazine to theconveyor, and a gage supported by the magazine to gage the distance towhich the heelv is fed to position it on the conveyor.

62. In combination, a magazine for heels, a conveyor adjacent to themagazine movable past the magazine to receive a series of heelstherefrom, means to feed the lowermost heel in the magazine to theconveyor,

anda gage, adjustable according to the size of the heels toA be handled,to position the heels on the conveyor.

63. In an organized machine, in combination, means for performing anoperation on articles such that succeeding operations should notimmediately be performed, adjacent means for performing a subsequentoperation on the articles, feeding and presenting means to presentarticles successively to the two said means, receiving and retainingmechanism, and means for transferring the articles to said mechanism andback to the feeding and presenting means after an interval sufficient toprepare the articles for the performance of the subsequent operation.

64. In an organized machine, in combination, means to treat articles inVsuch a manner that further operations cannot immediately be performedthereon, a conveyor to present articles successively thereto, receivingand retaining mechanism, means to transfer the articles from theconveyor to said mechanism and to replace them on the conveyor after thelapse of a substantial time, and means to perform a subsequent operationon the articles.

65. In a machine for finishing articles, means to apply a coating to thesurfaces of articles, a conveyor to present articles successivelythereto, means' to remove the articles from the conveyor and to replacethem thereon after the drying ofthe coating, and means to operate on thecoated surfaces of the articles.

66. In an organized machine, in combination, means to perform apreliminary operation on an article, means to perform a subsequentoperation on an article, a conveyor to present articles sequentially tosaid preliminary` means and thereafter to said-sub sequent means, andintermediate means to conveyor,

.and thereafter to return to the conveyor in their placespreviously-removed articles for the performance of the subsequentoperation.

67. In an organized machine, in combination, means to perform anoperation on articles such 'that subsequent operations should not beperformed immediately thereafter, means to perform a subsequent oper;ation Von the articles, a conveyor to present articles sequentially tosaid first named means and thereafter to said second means, a rotaryconveyor having a portion between said means and adjacent saidfirst-named and a transferrer to transfer articles from the firstconveyor to the rotary conveyor, and substitute therefor articles on therotary conveyor which have been thereon during the Vrevolution thereof,to allow the lapse of sufficient time before they are presented to saidsubsequent means.

68. In an organized machine, in combination, means to perform anoperation on a second conveyor having a portion located adjacent to thefirst conveyor between the two said means, and a transferrer tointerchange articles between the adjacent portions ofthe two conveyorsso that the second conveyor will support them for the length of timerequired to prepare them for the performance of the subsequentoperation.

69. In an organized machine, in combination, means to perform apreliminary operation on articles, means to perform a subsequentoperation on the articles, a conveyor 'to present articles sequentiallyfor the performance of the preliminary operation and thereafter for theperformance of 'the subsequent operation, a double-decked rotaryconveyor adjacent tothe first conveyor between the two said means, and atransferrer to change a preliminarily-treated article from the firstconveyor to one ydeck of the-rotary conveyor, to change an article whichhas been onthe rotary conveyor during one revolution from said deck tothe other deck of the rotary conveyor to make room for said firstarticle, and to change another article wliich has been on the rotaryconveyor during two revolutions of said second conveyor from said seconddeck to the position left vacant on the first conveyor by the removal ofthe first article, to leave room on .the second deck for the said secondarticle, by which arrangement each article is carried by the rotaryconveyor through vtwo revolutions bet-Ween the time of the performanceof the preliminary operation and the time of the performance of thesubsequent operation.

70. In an organized machine for acting on heels, means to apply acoating to the surface of a heel, means to perform a finishing operationon the coated surface of a heel, and conveying means to present heelssequentially to said coating means and thereafter to present the heelssequentially to the finishing means after the lapse of sufficient timeto permit a drying of the coating on each heel.

71. In an organized heel-finishingr machine, in combination, means tocoat the surfaces of heels, means including an endless conveyor toaccelerate the drying of the surfaces so coated, means sequentially topresent heels to said coating and drying means and means to remove theheel from said conveyor at the end of a complete cycle of movementthereof.

72. In an organized heel-finishing machine, means to coat the surface ofa heel, means to accelerate the drying of the coated surface of a heel,means to impart a finish to the coated surface of a heel, and a conveyorsequentially to present heels to said coating, drying, and finishingmeans. y

7 3. In an organized machine, in combination, means to coat a surface,means to impart a finish to the coated surface, a conveyor to presentarticles sequentially to said coating means and thereafterto saidfinishing means, means to remove coated articles from the conveyor andreturn them thereto for the finishing operation, and means to accelerate.the drying of the coating while the articles are removed from theconveyor'.

74. In an organized heel-finishing machine, means to coat the surface ofa heel, means to direct a current of air against a heel to accelerate'the drying of the coating, finishing means to operate on the coatedsurface of a heel, and mechanism sequentially to present heels to saidcoating, drying, and finishing means.

75. In an automatic machine. means to perform an ioperation on anarticle which leaves it Wet, means to accelerate the drying of thearticle, means to perform a subsequent operation on the article, aconveyor sequentially to present articles to said firstnamed means,another conveyor to carry the articles under the influence of thedryingaccelerating means, and a device to transfer preliminarily-treatedarticles from the first to the second conveyor, and dried articles fromthe second to the first conveyor,said first conveyor being arrangedthereafter to present the articles sequentially to the means forperforming a subsequent operation.

76. In an automatic machine, a magazine for articles, article-deliverymechanism therefor, means to perform a preliminary operation on anarticle, means to perform a subcombination, an annular conveying devicel having a plurality of concentrically arranged series of supports forblanks, said series of supports being relatively movable andmechanically-actuated transferring means to move blanks successivelyfrom the supports of one series to those of an adjacent series.

78. In a machine of the class described, in combination, an annularconveying device having a plurality of concentrically-arranged series ofsupports for blanks, mechanically-actuated transferring means to moveblanks successively from the supports of one series to those of anadjacent series, an operating instrumentality to engage the blanks onthe supports of said adj acent series, and means to remove the blankstherefrom after they have been so engaged.

79. In a machine of the class described, in combination, an annularrotary conveyor, means to place a succession of blanks thereon, anoperating instrumentality to engage blanks thereon, and means operatedby rotation of the conveyor positively to remove blanks Which have beenengaged by said operating instrumentality.

80. In a machine of the class described, in combination, an annularrotary conveying device having a plurality of concentricallyarrangedseries of blank-supports, means to move blanks horizontally from thesupports of one series to those ofan adjacent series, and means to movevertically the supports of said adjacent series.

8l. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a conveyor fortransporting a series of articles, dual supporting means for a pluralityof articles, and means for transferring articles from the conveyor toone part of said means, then later to the other part thereof, andthereafter returning them to the conveyor in the same order.

82. In a machine of the class described, in combination, anintermittently movable conveyorhaving a series of supports for articlesspaced to correspond -to the stopping stations of the conveyor, means tosupport a plurality of articles, and a plurality of operating meansopposite successive supports when the conveyor is at rest, one of saidoperating means being constructed and arranged to perform a preliminaryoperation on each article, the adjacent means being constructed andarranged to transfer articles successively from the conveyor to thesupporting means and thereafter to return them in the same' order to theconveyor, and the next means being constructed and arranged further tooperate on each article.

83. In an organized machine, in combination, a conveyor for a series ofarticles, dual supporting means for a plurality of articles, and meansto remove articles from'the conveyor and transferl them to one part ofsaid means, then later to another part thereof, and to return to theconveyor in their places articles previously removed from the conveyor.

84. An organized machine as defined by claim 83, in which the articlesare returned to the conveyor in the same order that they were removedtherefrom,

85. An organized machine as defined by claim 83, in combination withmeans to Wet articles on the conveyor before removal, and means tofinish them after they have dried on said supporting means and beenreturned to the conveyor.

86. An organized machine comprising, in combination, a magazine forshoe-parts,

'blacking-applying means, means sequentially to deliver a series ofshoe-parts from the magazine and present them to said means, supportingmeans, means to transfer the shoe parts to said supporting means andlater to return them to the delivering means after an interval, andmeans to polish the blacked surfaces of the shoe parts supported on thedelivering means.

87. .An organized machine comprising, in combination, blaclring-applyingmeans, conveying means to present a series of shoeparts thereto,supporting means, means to transfer the shoe parts to said supportingmeans and later to return them to the con- Vthereto@ Y Y.

In testimony whereof I vhave signed myV veying means after an interval,and means automatically to eject the blacked parts after they havedried,

88. A heel-making machine, comprising,

in combination, means to apply blacking to a heel, andpowenoperated'means comprislng a, circular conveyor surroundlng saldblacking applying means to present a-suc l cession of4 unattached heelsthereto.

89. An organized machine for use in maki means for placing a successionof heels inl the holders, and means for removing heels successively fromthe holders, operating on them, and returning them to theholders.

91. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a rotary turrethaving a plurality of heelholders, each holder comprising a pair offingers engaging opposite sides of a heel, power-operated means forplacing 1a succession of heels inthe holders, and

means for removing heels successively from the holders, operating onthem, and returning them to the holders.

92. Conveyor mechanism for heel-making machinery comprising, incombination, a rotary turret, a plurality of heel holders on the turret,a power-operated device for placf' ing heels in the turret, and meansfor removing theheels from the turret for an operation and thereafterreturning them name to this specification.

JOHN B. HADAWAY.

